As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
SteveO 35 wrote:Nice to see we learnt all the lessons from our previous away day stuffings......I mean we did an excellent job of not allowing them to bomb down our right hand side 2 versus 1 didn't we?
The goal that Lukaku scored just about summed up the modern Arsenal under Wenger. Acres of space to run down the right flank, cut inside without a tackle being made, game over.
I watched West Ham v Liverpool afterwards and even a defence containing the likes of Reid & Tomkins line up better than ours because even though I hate their walrus faced *word censored* of a manager, he (like the majority of the other 19 managers in the PL) can get a team to be tough to beat when he needs to.
Watched Inspector Clueless's interview afterwards. The poor guy is just so out of his depth in this modern world of young managers playing 4-3-3 and rich owners its unbelievable. Trying the same things that were great 15 years ago and hoping for the same outcome now as back then. I bet he uses 'dial up' internet connection at home and wonders why the blue bar takes forever to refresh
That was my view of the situation too - seems like db10 has a major hard on whern it comes to slating sagna but he received no support whatsoever and was still expected to deal with 2 everton players whilst bombing up the wing to be our chief creator
Also have to say that, while I agree that playing giroud on his own is ridiculous, it also needs to be said that his attitude, effort and first touch were absolutely woeful and unacceptable yesterday For me he has all the body language of a guy that has given up hope and knows that he is fcuking back to france in the summer
jeez. but this mongo sums up most of our fan base. facking werido neckbeard
Who the feck is that turd? Sounds like a carrot cruncher. Kool aid drinking twat.
The whole ArsenalFanTV thing is a bit tired now. Robbie's a nice guy but he's essentially just interviewing his mates and they think they're superfans/celebrities.
Plus, a lot of the people he interviews don't have a clue about either the history of the club or the realities of modern day football.
jeez. but this mongo sums up most of our fan base. facking werido neckbeard
Who the feck is that turd? Sounds like a carrot cruncher. Kool aid drinking twat.
The whole ArsenalFanTV thing is a bit tired now. Robbie's a nice guy but he's essentially just interviewing his mates and they think they're superfans/celebrities.
Plus, a lot of the people he interviews don't have a clue about either the history of the club or the realities of modern day football.
Agree with that part - for me by interviewing the same people all the time it takes away from the credibility of it all
Wenger's mantra is "tactics = cheating"... Can't remember the last time we actually outwitted anyone. Even Spurs away was earned with a large slice of luck...and relied on us scoring first.
Talking of which, I can only think of one league game this season (West Ham away) where we have come back to win after going a goal down. Think it's probably much the same the other way round, as there is only one (Villa at home) I can think of where we lost after scoring first. Speaks volumes though about this squad of players that they immediately wilt when things go wrong!
SteveO 35 wrote:Nice to see we learnt all the lessons from our previous away day stuffings......I mean we did an excellent job of not allowing them to bomb down our right hand side 2 versus 1 didn't we?
The goal that Lukaku scored just about summed up the modern Arsenal under Wenger. Acres of space to run down the right flank, cut inside without a tackle being made, game over.
I watched West Ham v Liverpool afterwards and even a defence containing the likes of Reid & Tomkins line up better than ours because even though I hate their walrus faced *word censored* of a manager, he (like the majority of the other 19 managers in the PL) can get a team to be tough to beat when he needs to.
Watched Inspector Clueless's interview afterwards. The poor guy is just so out of his depth in this modern world of young managers playing 4-3-3 and rich owners its unbelievable. Trying the same things that were great 15 years ago and hoping for the same outcome now as back then. I bet he uses 'dial up' internet connection at home and wonders why the blue bar takes forever to refresh
That was my view of the situation too - seems like db10 has a major hard on whern it comes to slating sagna but he received no support whatsoever and was still expected to deal with 2 everton players whilst bombing up the wing to be our chief creator
Also have to say that, while I agree that playing giroud on his own is ridiculous, it also needs to be said that his attitude, effort and first touch were absolutely woeful and unacceptable yesterday For me he has all the body language of a guy that has given up hope and knows that he is fcuking back to france in the summer
And if you actually READ my comments you will see I commented on the folly of playing Cazorla and Pod wide as cover for our fullbacks with Baines and Coleman opposite. But that aside, there is no escaping the fact that Sagna was terrible yesterday and has been VERY hit and miss for 2 seasons now. I have no agenda regarding Sagna, used to view him as one of our best players, but I'm pragmatic enough to admit he has been poor recently and very poor yesterday. Agree fully about Giroud. He has worked hard in most games but over the last few it's gotten to be less and less and yesterday he was terrible.
Fwank - cannot agree that Giroud can't be tired. Any player will tell you one of the hardest most exhausting jobs is lone striker. It's also demoralising as fuck when you don't get decent ball or proper support - two things we have not provided for most of this season, certainly since Rambo got injured. Giroud might be second rate (let's face it, he is) but no one can honestly say he hasn't given it everything in that shit role this season.
Christ DB10 are you his agent or something? Yes the role of our striker is physically demanding and really requires a broad set of skills of which Giroud has virtually none. He also can't be held accountable for the completely dire level of performances the team has shown recently and undoubtedly hasn't had great service. But as the season has gone on he has steadily reverted to the sort of performance we saw every week last season. Complete and utter shit, forget comparing him to van Judas or whatever, notwithstanding the above points his performances for months have been utter shit for a striker who plays at international level, cost £12m, earns the wages he undoubtedly does but doesn't justify and has had an unchallenged run as striker for one of the biggest clubs in Europe for 2 years. The way he has played he'd struggle to get into just about any PL team right now, he doesn't pose a 'threat' unless somebody passes the ball to him in the six-yard box.
I was unable to watch the game yesterday – emergency cover in work – so was listening on the radio and as soon as Everton scored I knew we were gonna lose, the only question was by how many…
We were utterly humiliated again yesterday.
Oh! sure we have one of the best defensive records in the prem, till we come to play any of the other top 5 teams.
Man city put 6 past us apparently according to wenger that was a “unfortunate”
Liverpool rape us with 5 goals – and that was a “mistake”
The chavs annihilate us 6 – Nil so it’s “back to the drawing board”
And now Everton – totally outplay, out class and outmuscle us every minute of the game
We were lucky not concede another 3 goals and so it’s “back to basics”.
Anyone with an iota of common sense could see Sagna was getting raped every time their left flank players got the ball, did anyone come back to help him out? F*cking NO!
Even Wrighty has had enough and finally had to admit that Wenger is no longer up to the job, and as pissed off and hurting as he has been like all of us, he has erred on the side of not saying we should get rid of the fool, but yesterday on 5 Live even he finally said he has to go.
The problem is if – IF Wenger should walk away – coz the board aren’t going to sack someone who makes them oodles of dosh year in year out – without wining any trophies,
If he leaves, there is no one on the board with ANY Football knowledge…Kroenke is only interested in profit – at least Abramovich is a football fan – a *word censored* but a football fan, Gazidis is a slime ball who would stab anyone in the back to make a profit and has no knowledge of the game – sure he knows how to use the club and the fans to make money, but the game itself is alien to the *word censored*.
So, even if Wenger walks away – we still have the problem of who would then make the decision as to who should then take the helm, Dein is persona no gratis, at least he knows football and loves the club as much as us, I find myself wishing and hoping he was back at Arsenal – even with all critics – because at least Wenger (seemed to listen to him….and since he departed…everything has been put in the hands of Inspector Clueless…how the manager of a club like Arsenal can be so tactically inept is beyond me, he was like a rabbit frozen in the headlights yesterday…when we go 2 nil down – why not make the changes – or do SOMETHING F*cking ANYTHING = Monreal was invisible and pointless…..well ALL the players were, they had no sense of purpose, even the experienced players were clueless.
I just cannot comprehend how any Arsenal Fan can justify keeping Wenger as manager….he has had his day….some 7 years ago…he is no longer at the races…all the changes and developments he brought with him have now been superseded…he is old hat, and needs to be put out to pasture….the thing is we are going to have to suffer a further 2 – 5 seasons at least before anyone new coming in can turn what has become a laughing stock of a lumbering juggernaut around and start playing football that matches the other teams who have adapted and evolved – Martinez would be the perfect candidate, but I don’t see him leaving a team that is playing better football than us.
northbank123 wrote:Christ DB10 are you his agent or something? Yes the role of our striker is physically demanding and really requires a broad set of skills of which Giroud has virtually none. He also can't be held accountable for the completely dire level of performances the team has shown recently and undoubtedly hasn't had great service. But as the season has gone on he has steadily reverted to the sort of performance we saw every week last season. Complete and utter shit, forget comparing him to van Judas or whatever, notwithstanding the above points his performances for months have been utter shit for a striker who plays at international level, cost £12m, earns the wages he undoubtedly does but doesn't justify and has had an unchallenged run as striker for one of the biggest clubs in Europe for 2 years. The way he has played he'd struggle to get into just about any PL team right now, he doesn't pose a 'threat' unless somebody passes the ball to him in the six-yard box.
Jesus... Again, READ what I wrote and have been writing about him for weeks. You are basically just repeating what I've said about him. He is not good enough to be first choice striker at Arsenal. He is, however, first choice striker at Arsenal. He has a limited skill set that a more pragmatic manager would play to, and get more out of. He has gotten steadily less effective as the season has gone on. A large part of this is down to being played every single game in a role he is not equipped for, and gets no support in. The only thing I think is fucking ludicrous is blaming Giroud for a defeat like yesterday. Or saying he is lazy. He has worked hard all season, NOW he is burnt out, both physically and mentally. Until you've played that lone striker role you have no idea how tiring and demoralising it can be.
SteveO 35 wrote:Nice to see we learnt all the lessons from our previous away day stuffings......I mean we did an excellent job of not allowing them to bomb down our right hand side 2 versus 1 didn't we?
The goal that Lukaku scored just about summed up the modern Arsenal under Wenger. Acres of space to run down the right flank, cut inside without a tackle being made, game over.
I watched West Ham v Liverpool afterwards and even a defence containing the likes of Reid & Tomkins line up better than ours because even though I hate their walrus faced *word censored* of a manager, he (like the majority of the other 19 managers in the PL) can get a team to be tough to beat when he needs to.
Watched Inspector Clueless's interview afterwards. The poor guy is just so out of his depth in this modern world of young managers playing 4-3-3 and rich owners its unbelievable. Trying the same things that were great 15 years ago and hoping for the same outcome now as back then. I bet he uses 'dial up' internet connection at home and wonders why the blue bar takes forever to refresh
That was my view of the situation too - seems like db10 has a major hard on whern it comes to slating sagna but he received no support whatsoever and was still expected to deal with 2 everton players whilst bombing up the wing to be our chief creator
Also have to say that, while I agree that playing giroud on his own is ridiculous, it also needs to be said that his attitude, effort and first touch were absolutely woeful and unacceptable yesterday For me he has all the body language of a guy that has given up hope and knows that he is fcuking back to france in the summer
And if you actually READ my comments you will see I commented on the folly of playing Cazorla and Pod wide as cover for our fullbacks with Baines and Coleman opposite. But that aside, there is no escaping the fact that Sagna was terrible yesterday and has been VERY hit and miss for 2 seasons now. I have no agenda regarding Sagna, used to view him as one of our best players, but I'm pragmatic enough to admit he has been poor recently and very poor yesterday. Agree fully about Giroud. He has worked hard in most games but over the last few it's gotten to be less and less and yesterday he was terrible.
Fwank - cannot agree that Giroud can't be tired. Any player will tell you one of the hardest most exhausting jobs is lone striker. It's also demoralising as fuck when you don't get decent ball or proper support - two things we have not provided for most of this season, certainly since Rambo got injured. Giroud might be second rate (let's face it, he is) but no one can honestly say he hasn't given it everything in that shit role this season.
Understand where you're coming from DB10, even though you're wrong Tell me why then why Giroud has never been injured this season? I'll tell you why, he's a bottlejob, he never gets stuck in and doesn't, despite what some say, ''work his bollocks off''
northbank123 wrote:Christ DB10 are you his agent or something? Yes the role of our striker is physically demanding and really requires a broad set of skills of which Giroud has virtually none. He also can't be held accountable for the completely dire level of performances the team has shown recently and undoubtedly hasn't had great service. But as the season has gone on he has steadily reverted to the sort of performance we saw every week last season. Complete and utter shit, forget comparing him to van Judas or whatever, notwithstanding the above points his performances for months have been utter shit for a striker who plays at international level, cost £12m, earns the wages he undoubtedly does but doesn't justify and has had an unchallenged run as striker for one of the biggest clubs in Europe for 2 years. The way he has played he'd struggle to get into just about any PL team right now, he doesn't pose a 'threat' unless somebody passes the ball to him in the six-yard box.
Jesus... Again, READ what I wrote and have been writing about him for weeks. You are basically just repeating what I've said about him. He is not good enough to be first choice striker at Arsenal. He is, however, first choice striker at Arsenal. He has a limited skill set that a more pragmatic manager would play to, and get more out of. He has gotten steadily less effective as the season has gone on. A large part of this is down to being played every single game in a role he is not equipped for, and gets no support in. The only thing I think is fucking ludicrous is blaming Giroud for a defeat like yesterday. Or saying he is lazy. He has worked hard all season, NOW he is burnt out, both physically and mentally. Until you've played that lone striker role you have no idea how tiring and demoralising it can be.
I am reading what you've been saying for weeks mate, and I'm reading a lot about people "blaming Giroud for the defeat". Granted I am not paid thousands of pounds a week like you to monitor every post and maybe I've genuinely missed some posts blaming us not winning on him, but all the posts I'm reading are just complaining about him being shit without laying our failure to win games at his feet.
And I do realise that we are in agreement on 90% of it, but I would go further and say that even considering the mitigating factors like his lack of ability, the demanding role, the fatigue of a hard season and the rest of the team playing poorly his performances have STILL fallen miles short of what he should consider a remotely acceptable level. Bar a flat-track bully performance against Sunderland and a brief cameo against Everton he's been pretty much constant turd for months.
SteveO 35 wrote:Nice to see we learnt all the lessons from our previous away day stuffings......I mean we did an excellent job of not allowing them to bomb down our right hand side 2 versus 1 didn't we?
The goal that Lukaku scored just about summed up the modern Arsenal under Wenger. Acres of space to run down the right flank, cut inside without a tackle being made, game over.
I watched West Ham v Liverpool afterwards and even a defence containing the likes of Reid & Tomkins line up better than ours because even though I hate their walrus faced *word censored* of a manager, he (like the majority of the other 19 managers in the PL) can get a team to be tough to beat when he needs to.
Watched Inspector Clueless's interview afterwards. The poor guy is just so out of his depth in this modern world of young managers playing 4-3-3 and rich owners its unbelievable. Trying the same things that were great 15 years ago and hoping for the same outcome now as back then. I bet he uses 'dial up' internet connection at home and wonders why the blue bar takes forever to refresh
That was my view of the situation too - seems like db10 has a major hard on whern it comes to slating sagna but he received no support whatsoever and was still expected to deal with 2 everton players whilst bombing up the wing to be our chief creator
Also have to say that, while I agree that playing giroud on his own is ridiculous, it also needs to be said that his attitude, effort and first touch were absolutely woeful and unacceptable yesterday For me he has all the body language of a guy that has given up hope and knows that he is fcuking back to france in the summer
And if you actually READ my comments you will see I commented on the folly of playing Cazorla and Pod wide as cover for our fullbacks with Baines and Coleman opposite. But that aside, there is no escaping the fact that Sagna was terrible yesterday and has been VERY hit and miss for 2 seasons now. I have no agenda regarding Sagna, used to view him as one of our best players, but I'm pragmatic enough to admit he has been poor recently and very poor yesterday. Agree fully about Giroud. He has worked hard in most games but over the last few it's gotten to be less and less and yesterday he was terrible.
Fwank - cannot agree that Giroud can't be tired. Any player will tell you one of the hardest most exhausting jobs is lone striker. It's also demoralising as fuck when you don't get decent ball or proper support - two things we have not provided for most of this season, certainly since Rambo got injured. Giroud might be second rate (let's face it, he is) but no one can honestly say he hasn't given it everything in that shit role this season.
Understand where you're coming from DB10, even though you're wrong Tell me why then why Giroud has never been injured this season? I'll tell you why, he's a bottlejob, he never gets stuck in and doesn't, despite what some say, ''work his bollocks off''
According to the papers he was indeed working "his bollocks off" and she was a fit bird that he "was getting stuck in" too Of course now that the wife found out he aint getting any at home and aint getting any with that tart on the side so is it any wonder that he cant score on the pitch either ?
Roberto Martinez: Everton boss faces Arsenal date with destiny
Comments (667)
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright was given an instant insight into the confidence and positive mind-set of the man he chose to replace David Moyes on his first meeting with Roberto Martinez.
After appointing the 40-year-old Catalan to succeed Manchester United-bound Moyes after 11 years at Goodison Park, Kenwright revealed: "Almost his first words to me were 'I'll get you into the Champions League'."
Martinez's words were regarded by many as a bold private promise that he would struggle to keep in reality. One look at the current Premier League table gives the lie to those doubts.
Everton face fourth-placed Arsenal at Goodison Park on Sunday standing just four points behind the Gunners with a game in hand after five successive Premier League wins.
Premier League goals scored in last 15 minutes
Goals % scored in last 15 mins
Source: Opta
Everton 17 34.7%
West Brom 12 33.3%
Palace 6 30%
Swansea 13 28.9%
Sun'land 8 28.6%
Norwich 7 26.9%
West Ham 9 25%
Chelsea 15 24.2%
Cardiff 7 24.1%
Martinez has made a seamless transition from Moyes while playing his trademark stylish passing game and winning over the sceptics who doubted his appointment when relegation followed his historic FA Cup win with Wigan Athletic last season.
Was Martinez the manager who would always live in the lower reaches of the Premier League, or was he one of the game's most gifted young bosses who would flourish with greater resources?
As he prepares to face Arsenal, Martinez appears to have answered the question while turning Everton into one of the country's most watchable, easy-on-the-eye teams.
Behind Martinez's smiling exterior lies a manager with a passionate devotion to the game, a man who has an L-shaped sofa in his home so he can spend time with wife Beth while both can watch different televisions - because his is invariably tuned in to football.
Martinez has charmed Everton's fans by embracing the club's rich history. The walls on a stairway at the club's Finch Farm training headquarters are adorned with images of Everton's finest moments - with a blank canvas left at the top as an inspiration to create new successes.
He even took part in a pre-Christmas video parody of Morecambe and Wise's famous "Bring Me Sunshine" for the club website - and there is no doubt these are sunny days for Everton and their fans.
Martinez's regime is also based on strict discipline and he has already revealed he will fine players if he can prove they have not had eight hours' sleep at night, a rule he will find easier to enforce when he has overnight accommodation built at their training headquarters.
Roberto Martinez factfile
Age: 40
Playing career: Real Zaragoza (1993-94), Balaguer (1994-95), Wigan Athletic (1995-2001), Motherwell (2001-02), Walsall (2002-03), Swansea (2003-06), Chester City (2006-07)
Playing honours: Copa del Rey (1994), Football League Third Division title (1996-97), Football League Trophy (1998-99 & 2005-06)
Managerial career: Swansea City (2007-09) and Wigan Athletic (2009-13), Everton (2013-)
Managerial honours: League One title (2007-08) & FA Cup (2012-13)
Everton are still outsiders for fourth as Arsenal appear to have the easier run-in, but those around the club - while never forgetting the fine work of Moyes over his 11 years - enthuse at the Martinez effect.
Former Everton midfielder and BBC Sport pundit Kevin Kilbane explained how Martinez got players to buy into the new era in pre-season.
Kilbane said: "I've spoken to Roberto and a number of players around training issues and I asked him specifically about times of training and why he likes to change the times. He told me he likes to vary the times of training, sometimes to suit 3pm kick-off or even evening kick-offs.
"During pre-season he had the players coming in at night for a training session and he said the best thing about it was he had a squad of players who bought into it. He explained to them why he was doing it. He said it was all game-related so they could get time to recover, 48 hours or so, by bringing them in later.
"It is quite difficult to radically change players' habits. Players are quite single-minded and very reluctant to change but they have bought into it and it has brought success on the pitch.
"David Moyes left a great base and foundation but Roberto arrived and got players, lots of the guys who played under Moyes for a very long time, playing in a different style. That is real testimony to him."
Martinez is regarded as being tactically astute, but also a superb man-manager and a strict disciplinarian
A look at the stats suggests the plan is reaping rewards, allied to Martinez's mastery of substitutions - as when he introduced attacking trio Steven Naismith, Kevin Mirallas and Aiden McGeady in the second half of the 3-1 win at Fulham.
Martinez has sent on nine goalscoring substitutes in the league this season while Everton's strength late in games is becoming another characteristic. They have won 15 points with goals scored after 80 minutes this season and 17 in the last 20 minutes - both the highest in the Premier League. They have scored 34.7% of their league goals in the last 15 minutes.
Former Everton midfielder Barry Horne on Martinez
"Everyone expects the younger managers such as Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers to embrace the new ways such as sports science, match analysis, psychology and nutrition, but the one thing they really have to embrace is the new game of football and Roberto does that.
"This idea you can rule by fear is long gone because footballers have no reason to fear anything any more. They can just sit in the corner and pick up their wages then get a move.
"I would call it 'confidence management'. It is forever telling the players how good they are. It is a whole new way of managing modern-day professional footballers and Martinez is a great exponent of it."
Kilbane believes Martinez's August deadline-day signings, who came in as Marouane Fellaini left for Manchester United in a £27.5m move, made the key impact.
"I saw them a couple of times early on and even though they had lots of possession they were not much of a threat," said Kilbane. "He then brought in Romelu Lukaku, Gareth Barry and James McCarthy. They were game-changers.
"If you make three big signings it lifts everything. Barry played really well when they beat Chelsea then Lukaku made his debut as a substitute and scored the winner when they won 3-2 at West Ham.
"All of a sudden, that was the change - it said Everton were going to have possession of the ball, be patient, but also have a big threat and score goals."
Martinez's personal touch at Everton has also had its effect, with Kilbane saying: "I'm quite close with a number of staff in and around the training ground - masseurs, kit men and physios - and they genuinely don't have a bad word to say about him. You can see the warmth they have for him and he has for them."
Former Everton striker Graeme Sharp, who now works at the club, said: "He's been fantastic. He has embraced everything about Everton.
Goal scored by substitutes in Premier League this season
• 11 - West Brom
• 9 - Everton, Chelsea
• 8 - Man City, Sunderland
• 7 - Fulham
• 6 - Man Utd, Southampton
"One thing that struck me away from football was that he took a group of 20-odd journalists out to a Spanish restaurant in Liverpool just before Christmas. He was waiting for them and went around every one and knew all their names - he has the knack of making people feel special."
And Sharp has been impressed with how Martinez has imposed his beliefs on both experienced and young players: "He is so positive. His three substitutions at Fulham were all attackers and all contributed to the win.
"In the home derby game this season, Leighton Baines went off injured with a broken toe with Liverpool leading 2-1 and Roberto's response was to send Gerard Deulofeu on and switch his side around. It shocked a few and changed the face of the game. It ended 3-3 with Liverpool only getting a point in the last minute."
And despite uncertainty over the future of loan stars Barry, Lukaku and Deulofeu, Kilbane forecasts a bright future: "I asked Roberto this and he told me all he can do is evaluate at the end of the season but he has confidence in his chairman Bill Kenwright and the club.
"No matter what, he has the nucleus of outstanding young talent like Ross Barkley, Seamus Coleman and John Stones and the experience of Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Leon Osman and Sylvain Distin."
If Martinez can mastermind a win over Arsenal on Sunday, his promise to Kenwright will come a step closer to reality.
For me he has all the body language of a guy that has given up hope and knows that he is fcuking back to france in the summer
